7 p.m., War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, N.Y.

Syracuse (9-7-1-1) meets St. John's for the first time this season Friday at the War Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. The IceCaps are playing their fifth of six consecutive road games, having won three of the first four. At 23 points in 21 games, St. John's (10-8-1-2) is seventh in the Eastern Conference, one spot (and three standings points) better than eighth-ranked Syracuse (9-7-1-1). The Crunch own a better points percentage (.556 vs, .548), but have lost five straight games, including the last four in regulation.

As part of "KROCK Night at the Syracuse Crunch" the game will be broadcast on KROCK's airwaves at 100.9 & 106.5 FM. Fans at the War Memorial will enjoy rock band Under the Gun before the game and during intermissions.

Broadcast Coverage
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.
KROCK 100.9 &106.5 FM 
Free audio on your mobile device with the TuneIn App
Pay-to-watch video on AHL LIve.com and on your mobile device with the AHL Live App 

Who's in the lineup?
The Crunch signed forward Ray Kaunsito to a PTO on Friday.  The 26-year-old Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan native has played the first 13 games of the season with the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings, posting five assists. 

Kaunsito graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2010 and signed an entry-level deal with the Los Angeles Kings.  Since then he's played in the AHL and ECHL over the last four seasons.  He played two seasons with the Manchester Monarchs from 2010-12, scoring 36 points (15g, 21a) in 131 games.  He spent most of last season with the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL, although he did play one game with the St. John's IceCaps. His last game in the AHL was with St. John's on Dec. 15 last year.

Syracuse signed center Philip-Michael Devos to a PTO Wednesday; the 23-year-old defenseman made his Crunch/AHL season debut vs. Bingamton that night. The third-year pro played 70 games for the Crunch last year, and began the 2013-14 campaign with the ECHL's Elmira Jackals. Devos racked up 26 points (7g, 19a) last season.

Right wing Max Parent was recalled from ECHL-Florida Tuesday and made his AHL debut Wedneday in Binghamton. Signed by the Lightning to a one-year AHL contract in 2012, Parent played only three ECHL games last season because of injury. He's played in two contests for the Everblades this year. The 25 year old won a University Cup with McGill in 2012, collecting 101 points (42g, 59a) in 145 collegiate regular season and postseason games.

Crunch defenseman Nikita Nesterov took a shot in his visor Wednesday and expected to miss Friday's game vs. St. John's. However, defenseman Joey Mormina is slated to return to the Syracuse lineup having missed the last two games because of injury. Vlad Namestnikov, Phil Paradis and Evan Rankin are also out with injuries. J.T. Brown, Nikita Kucherov and Dana Turell remain in the NHL with Tampa Bay.

Last time out
Syracuse fell to the Senators 5-1 on Wednesday night in Binghamton for its fifth consecutive loss.  A pair of Binghamton goalies combined to make 32 saves on 33 shots to stymie the Crunch offense, which has scored just two goals over the last three games.

Defenseman Michael Sdao opened the scoring halfway through the first with an unassisted marker for a 1-0 Sens lead.  Nathan Lawson made 12 stops for the Senators in the first period before being replaced by Andrew Hammond because of an injury to start the second period.  Binghamton doubled its lead with a goal from Andre Petersson at 6:45 of the second.

The Crunch cut into the deficit later in the period, as Geoff Walker tipped in a Dmitry Korobov point shot for a power-play goal to make it 2-1. The marker was Walker's first with the Crunch and his 40th career goal in his 244th AHL game. But the Senators scored with less than a minute to play in the second and twice more in the third for the 5-1 win.

Riku Helenius allowed five goals on 37 shots including a Cole Schneider penalty shot.  The Crunch went 1-for-3 on the power play and killed off the lone Binghamton man advantage. With 

Scouting the IceCaps
Tonight is the fifth of a six-game, eight-day road trip for St. John's.  They have won three of four on the road trip beating Bridgeport, Hershey and splitting a pair with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. 

The Ice Caps (10-8-1-2) have 23 points good for second in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of Syracuse.  St. John's has won their last two games and three of their last four.  They have recorded a point in six of the last seven games.

On the man-advantage the Ice Caps are converting on 20.3% of opportunities (24-for-118).  They are ranked eighth in the league.  The power play has scored in eight of the last nine games.
St. John's has the 15th ranked penalty kill in the AHL (83.2%).

Eric O'Dell leads the Ice Caps with 21 points (10g, 11a).  Kael Mouillerat is second on the team with 18 points (5g, 13a).  Rookie Brandon Kichton is third on the team with 16 points ( 4g, 12a), and is eighth in rookie scoring.  

Mouillerat led all returning scorers for St. John's against the Crunch last season with four points (1g, 3a).  Patrice Cormier had three points (2g, 1a) against Syracuse last year.

In net Eddie Pasquale has played in 17 games posting a record of 9-7-1 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.35 GAA.  Jussi Olkinuora a 1-2-1 record with a .874 save percentage and a 3.72 GAA through four games this season.

Ice Caps forward Eric Gordon played 19 games for the Crunch during the 2011-12 season totaling eight points (3g, 5a) and 46 penalty minutes.

Special Teams Comparison
Syracuse snapped its four-game power-play drought with a goal on three chances Wednesday in Binghamton. The Crunch move up from eighth to seventh in the AHL with the man advantage at 20.7% (18-for-87). The team's penalty kill stopped the Senators' lone chance Wednesday and remains 21st in the AHL at 81.5% (66-for-81). They had allowed five power play markers in the previous four losses.

The Ice Caps are tied with Abbotsford for the most power play goals scored this season (24).  They have given up the most short-handed goals against (7).  St. John's has more power play opportunities than any other team in the league (118).  O'Dell has scored five of the 24 power-play goals this season. 

The last time the Ice Caps came to the War Memorial Ice Caps goaltender Eddie Pasquale fought former Crunch goaltender Dustin Tokarski in the second period.  Syracuse won 6-3 coming back from a 3-2 deficit after the Pasquale-Tokarski fight.